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Lions film review: Why Matthew Stafford had so many batted passes

Free Press writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez discuss where the Detroit Lions are heading into the bye on Oct. 17, 2017.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had 10 passes deflected at the line of scrimmage on Sunday against the Saints, including this one that led to a Cameron Jordan touchdown.(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

Of all the wild things that happened in the Detroit Lions’ 52-38 loss to the Saints last week, perhaps the most remarkable was that Matthew Stafford had at least 10 passes tipped at the line of scrimmage.

Defensive end Cam Jordan said the Saints saw on film that Stafford had a tendency for batted balls, while Lions coach Jim Caldwell dismissed the tips Monday as part of “one of those unusual games.”

“Just unfortunate, and they were all different ways that they had them,” Caldwell said. “Maybe it was a lineman didn’t cut his guy, his hands got up, he’s supposed to get him on the ground. Maybe it was a launch angle, those kinds of things. So it was a lot of different scenarios, but the great thing about it, even though it was difficult, and it wasn’t pretty, and we’re not happy with it, it’s correctable.”

It’s true that a variety of factors contributed to the pass deflections, but a Free Press film review of every Stafford pass attempt from last weekend showed that the Saints’ gameplan, coupled with Stafford’s reduced mobility and the Lions’ limited offense, were the biggest culprits in one of Stafford’s most frustrating performances.

Stafford completed just 25 of 52 passes and lost five turnovers. Along with the 10 batted balls, he had his arm hit to disrupt a throw and lost a fumble when the ball was swatted out of his hand.

Two of Stafford’s three interceptions came on passes that were tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the third ricocheted off running back Theo Riddick.

“I think their guys were just being players,” Stafford said when asked about the tips after the game. “I don’t know if it was a concerted effort coming into the game, I have no idea. I’m not in their meeting rooms, but just got to find a way to get it through. Obviously, it led to some big plays. Some tips led to some interceptions that we’d love to have back.”

Saints DE Cameron Jordan hits Lions RB Theo Riddick, causing him to lose the football and resulting in an interception late in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 52-38 loss in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Bill Feig, AP

Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) celebrates his interception return for a touchdown with Ted Ginn (19) and Justin Hardee (34) in the second half against the Lions in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Bill Feig, AP

Saints' Alex Okafor gets past Greg Robinson (73) to force a fumble on Matthew Stafford in the first quarter that was recovered for a Saints touchdown at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans. Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images

Oct 15, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro recovers a fumble in the end zone against Lions running back Zach Zenner in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

Lions QB Matthew Stafford fumbles as he is hit by Saints DE Alex Okafor, causing a fumble recovered in the end zone for a Saints touchdown in the first quarter in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Butch Dill, AP

Lions players link arms during the national anthem before the game against the Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Oct. 15, 2017 in New Orleans. Pictured are Jeff Locke (18), Theo Riddick (25), Graham Glasgow (60) and Emmett Cleary (77). Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images

Members of the New Orleans Saints, including QB Drew Brees (9), kneel for a moment of silence for fallen New Orleans Police officer Marcus McNeil before the game against the Lions in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The players then stood for the national anthem. Gerald Herbert, AP

Oct 15, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Saints players, including running back Mark Ingram (22), kneel before the national anthem before the game against the Lions at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

Lions QB Matthew Stafford laughs while warming up after talking with Saints QB coach Joe Lombardi before the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Oct. 15, 2017 in New Orleans. Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images

Five of the 10 tipped passes I identified on film came with the Saints rushing four or fewer defenders, and the other five came on blitzes — many with the Saints pinning their ears back to get after Stafford while he tried to rally the Lions from a huge early-game deficit.

Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro deflected a Stafford pass at the line of scrimmage when he pulled up a few steps into his blitz, and he jumped to tip away a pass intended for Stafford’s “hot” read, the man Vaccaro left open.

The Saints also took advantage of what appeared to be several errors in protection.

On Stafford’s first tipped pass of the game, with just under 5 minutes left in the first quarter, left tackle Greg Robinson whiffed on a cut block of defensive end Trey Hendrickson.

Robinson dove at Hendrickson’s legs — a common technique used to keep the passing lane open on quick passes — but barely grazed him, leaving Hendrickson to jump in the air and swat down Stafford’s intended pass to Eric Ebron.

In the third quarter, Jordan stuck his left arm out to the side to tip away a Stafford bubble screen intended for TJ Jones. Tight end Darren Fells, who appeared to have blocking responsibility on Jordan on the play, stepped inside on his pass block set, while Jordan took a straight line to Stafford and was directly in his passing window.

“We knew that he was giving up sacks and that he had a whole lot of passes batted,” Jordan said. “We had to take advantage of that.”

Jordan had two of the Saints’ 10 line-of-scrimmage pass deflections, including one with just over 5 minutes to play when he tipped the ball to himself in the end zone for the game-clinching touchdown.

Jordan looped inside from his right defensive end spot against center Travis Swanson and got his left hand up in the air just in time to deflect a Stafford pass intended for Ebron.

Marshon Lattimore’s third-quarter interception return for a touchdown also came off a deflection, when Hendrickson got his right arm up to just in time to tip the ball. Graham Glasgow, who was blocking on the play, appeared to be a step late firing out of his stance, which allowed Hendrickson to get into Stafford's passing lane.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Lions 52-38.(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

“We knew Matt was going to be getting rid of the ball quick,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “They were banged up at the offensive line and, obviously, he was banged up. When you start getting that early passing game to avoid the pressure, guys will look good.”

Well, defensive guys, at least.

Caldwell said he doesn't believe the Lions have become too predictable on offense. Rather, they have a lot of things to clean up during this week's bye.

"We’ve played a lot games around here within the same system," Caldwell said.
"It was just unusual."